Pex pipe with Polybutylene Fitings

rkie · February 11, 2009, 2:01pm

I inspected a home yesturday that the potable water lines were Pex Tubing almost translusent white. But all the fittings looked like the Old Grey Polybutylene Fittings. What type of fittings can be used?

rkie · February 11, 2009, 2:22pm

To expand on this they are large grey compression type fittings

sstanczyk · February 11, 2009, 6:06pm

A picture would be helpful. Wirsbo brand PEX uses this type of connection ring instead of the metal compression rings. http://www.pexsupply.com/categories.asp?cID=54

Is this what you are talking about?

rkie · February 11, 2009, 8:48pm

Here is a picture of the pipe and the fittings

jkogel · February 12, 2009, 5:33am

Not aware of compression fittings of that type for Pex.
Bump.

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

rkie · February 13, 2009, 11:35am

Anyone have an answer for me?

gbeaumont · February 13, 2009, 1:17pm

Hi Rick,

I tried to research this for you but can’t find the deffinative answer, but heres my thoughts. All of the PEX manufacturers have very specific installation guides and adherance to those is part of the warranty, all that I have seen have used a metal “barbed” fitting and a special crimp tool to make the joint, I have never seen that fitting used with PEX and believe it to be wrong, but I’d need to know the pipe manufacturer to be 100% sure.

Regards

Gerry

bkelly2 · February 13, 2009, 2:50pm

The fittings look like Polypropylene to me.

bking · February 13, 2009, 4:05pm

That is a PB fitting but not one that was included in the settlement fund.
http://www.pbpipe.com/Eligibility/ExcludedSystems/tabid/69/Default.aspx

I don’t think the exact dimensions are the same so that PB fitting should not be used with PEX or at least not considered a PEX plumbing component making it technically wrong.

Here is a picture of a polypropylene fitting:

and another color:
http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=3160330

mcyr · February 13, 2009, 4:20pm

Is it possible it could have been fittings as shown below.
I have seen some similar on jobs and they were Watts fittings.
This is similar.

http://www.ardipex.com/pex-fittings-compression.php

Compression PEX Fitting (PF1)

**PEX **Equal straight union

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-1.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-S1216×1216
PF1-S1620×1620Both ends connected to PEX pipes of same size.
E.g.: F1-S1620×1620 means both ends connected to PEX pipes 1620.**PEX **Male union

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-2.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-S1216×1/2One end connected to PEX pipes,the other to female threads.
E.g.: F1-S1620×1/2 means one end connected to PEX pipes 1620,the other to 1/2 female threads.**PEX **Female union

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-3.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-S1216×1/2F
PF1-S1620×1/2FOne end connected to PEX pipes,the other to male threads.
E.g.： F1-S1620×1/2F means one end connected to PEX pipes 1620, the other to 1/2 male threads.**PEX **Equal elbow

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-4.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-L1216×1216
PF1-L1620×1620Both ends connected to PEX pipes of same size.
E.g.： F1-L1620×1620 means both ends connected to PEX pipes 1620.**PEX **Female elbow

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-5.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-L1216×1/2F
PF1-L1620×1/2FOne end connected to PEX pipes,the other tomale threads.
E.g.： F1-L1620×1/2 F means one end connected to PEX pipes 1620,the other to 1/2 male threads.**PEX **Wall-plated female elbow

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-6.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-L1216×1/2F(Z)IIOne end connected to PEX pipes,the other to 1/2 male threads.
E.g.： F1-L1620×1/2 F(Z) means one end connected to PEX pipes 1620,the other to 1/2 male threads.**PEX **Equal tee

http://www.ardipex.com/images/pex-fittings/pex-fitting-compression-7.gif

SpecificationsDescriptionPF1-T1216×1216×1216Three ends connected to PEX pipes of same size.
E.g.：F1-T1620×1620×1620 means three ends connected to PEX pipes 1620.**PEX **Connector core for manifold
Marcel :)

dduffy · February 13, 2009, 4:32pm

The Pipe look more like CPVC rather than PEX.

bkelly2 · February 13, 2009, 4:51pm

It is marked pex Dale. http://www.astm.org/Standards/F876.htm

Perhaps Flair-It Fittings???

http://store.flairit.com/c-99-flair-it-male-tees.aspx
http://store.flairit.com/c-89-flair-it-couplings.aspx

rkie · February 16, 2009, 12:19pm

Hey Guys thanks for the help. I sent your replys to the buyers Realtor to discuss with his client. I still dont have a definite answer but it has to be wrong I think i’ll call the manufacturer of the pipe and E-mail them pics of the fittings.